17:25 That's it from a very damp Ripon where a good crowd has seen some reasonable racing.
From a murky Yorkshire good evening.
17:15 A really easy race to finish off the afternoon, a 20 runner maiden sprint where none of the runners had ever won a race – indeed they had collectively managed to lose 167 races between them all.
Whereas there may not have been any draw bias in the earlier big field race on the straight course, the same wasn’t so this time as all the action was down the stand side.
The early pace concerned the market leaders with Tugalu and Uace Mac setting the pace. However two out Frisbee, who is in foal, streaked into the lead and never looked to be in any danger.
The only horse to chase her was Tyrannosaurus Rex who came from the pack, but he could only get within two lengths an he in turn finished seven lengths of the remainder who bunched for a photo finish. With Miss Taboo getting the better of the favourite Lake Sabina.
16:25 Race five was a mile handicap, pretty competitive on paper and it turned out to be reasonably competitive in reality.
In a race the lead changed several times it was the only girl in the race, Hula Ballew, who made a decisive move against the rail a furlong from home.
The challengers came from the pack with the favourite Rainbow Mirage and York winner Blue Spinnaker both running on to take second and fourth, to be separated by My Paris, the only course winner in the field, who had been in the van throughout.
16:10 The big race of the afternoon was the longest of the afternoon, the 1 ½ mile Ripon Bell-Ringer Handicap.
We had a very brave pillar to post winner in Laterly, who shot into the lead being ahead by five lengths at one point and at the business end holding off the challenge of Detonator, who just could not get his head in front despite the urging of Joe Fanning.
The race was run in the driving rain and could not have been fun for horses or riders.
In a tight betting heat Celt was sent off favourite but only finished a running on third, never challenging the front two.
Jubal Tariq, who is two from two at the course was a long way back in fourth.
15:40 More fun at the start as another runner refused to enter the stalls. This time it was Demolition who was playing up, sadly for punters he was an 11/2 shot which resulted in a 15p in the pound deduction.
The race itself wasn’t exactly inspirational and the went no great pace.
Elk Trail was to the fore as were Vicious Warrior and Nine Stories. And these three were involved in the finish along with the running on Ella Woodcock.
In the end it was Nine Stories under Robert Winston who prevailed from the running on challenger with Elk Trail in third place.
The favourite was very disappointing with Joe Fanning producing Giant Love far too late.
The other two well backed runners Collateral Damage and Wigwam Willie were both unimpressive although the latter had no luck in running.
15:10 A 17 runner six furlong sprint and any punters hoping for clues as to which side of the course would be favoured would be destined to be disappointed.
As expected the field split into two groups, although only five runners went to the far side, with the remaining twelve coming down the stands side.
Initially it looked as though the stand side had it with the favourite Heaven Or Hell along with Incy Wincy and Transformation making the running. Dougie Peel, Ernies Keep and Shadow Bay made the pace on the far side.
Coming for home the far side had the advantage with Shadow Bay having made a blistering run to go clear of his rivals with Dean Iarracht showing a clean pair of hoofs on the near side. Judge Alastair Stewart had no problem calling the result though. Dougie Peel took third.
So no clues as to where the draw advantage lies today.
14:40 A two year old sprint to get us underway and we lost one at the start as Mary Mason refused to enter the stalls and was withdrawn by the starter.
This turned out to be a front runners race with Sirenuse, either leading or with the pace the entire race, taking the honours under Tom Eaves. The winner was not unsupported being backed from 9/2 into 7/2.
The well backed second favourite Minotaurious was in with every chance, again with the pace, but although running on again towards the line was unable to take the race. Outsider Ishe Mac was a running on third, whilst the favourite Salsa Star took fourth.
A reasonable two-year-old contest but I don’t think we have seen any future stars.
13:30 A very good afternoon from Yorkshire's garden racecourse, where the sun is out but so is the wind.
It looks as though we are going to have a good crown on this the first day of the first Festival Of Yourshire racing, where the county will host nine meetings in the next nine days.
We have two non-runners so far, details on the right.
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